Class of 1948

Harry K. Sleicher ’48, of Wakefield, R.I.; Apr. 9. His business career was spent in the foundry industry and he was a past president of the New England Foundry Association. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was an active member of many service organizations and served as past senior warden of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, past president and zone chairman of the Johnston Lions Club, past commodore of the Wickford Yacht Club, and a former member of the East Greenwich Yacht Club. He enjoyed sailing the New England coast, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the islands of the Caribbean. He also spent time on Cranberry Lake (N.Y.), where he enjoyed hiking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing. He is survived by daughters Cathy Williams ’75, Robin Seaberg ’77, and Wendy Bier ’90; two grandsons; three great-grandchildren; and niece Gretchen Sleicher ’79.

Lois Cole Creighton ’48, of Guilford, Conn.; May 10. She was a homemaker and later earned a master’s of education. She taught second grade at Calvin Leete Elementary School for 25 years. She was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church in Guilford, president of the Leete’s Island Garden Club, and a member of the Friends of the Guilford Library. She enjoyed swimming, entertaining, and activities at the Guilford Community Center. She is survived by three sons, two daughters-in-law, seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. 

Bernard Nemtzow ’48, of Key Biscayne, Fla.; Sept. 4. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, he matriculated at Brown and was editor of the Brown Daily Herald and a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He continued his education at Harvard Law School and practiced corporate litigation with Mudge, Stern, Williams & Tucker, followed by a position as corporate executive and vice chairman of Borden, Inc. He is survived by his wife, Doris; a daughter and son-in-law; a son; a granddaughter; two great-grandsons; and a sister. 

William J. Golden Jr. ’48, of LaGrange, Ga.; Jul. 8. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was an entrepreneur and retired as vice president of Seamco Sporting Goods. He was president of the Troup County/LaGrange Chamber of Commerce, a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in LaGrange, and enjoyed playing golf. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; five children and their spouses; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Robert J. Welch ’48, of Southport, Mass.; June 8. After graduating from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy as a dental corps officer from 1952 to 1954, then joined his father’s dentistry practice in North Attleboro, Mass. He retired in 1981 and joined the faculty of Tufts Dental School as an associate professor in the prosthodontic and clinic administration departments until retiring in 1993. He and his family were summer residents of New Seabury from 1963 and became full-time residents in 1989. He was active in the community, serving as a founding member and vice commodore of the New Seabury Sailing Club and as president and treasurer of the New Seabury Men’s Club. After assisting with the establishment of the dental clinic at the Community Health Center of Cape Cod, located in Mashpee, he treated dental patients for several years at the new facility. A long time parishioner of Christ the King Church, he served as a eucharistic minister. He and his wife moved to Southport in 2014. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; four children and their spouses, including son Robert Jr. ’80; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandson. 

Dolores Rego Forman ’48, of Centerville, Mass.; May 12. She married in 1952 and raised a family. She later attended Bridgewater State College and received her master’s degree in 1971. She taught remedial reading for three years and then became an administrative assistant for the Brockton school system for 20 years. She enjoyed collecting antiques, gardening, and reading. She is survived by three sons, a daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, and a great-grandson. 

Elizabeth Montali Smith McKenzie ’48, of Annapolis, Md., formerly of Warren, R.I.; Feb. 5. She met and married her first husband, Peirce Baker Smith ’49, while attending Brown. She was the May Queen and president of the Student Government Association and remained active with Brown, participating in many commencement marches down College Hill. She raised a family and was involved with the Attleboro Community Theatre before becoming an art history teacher at the House in the Pines School (Mass.) in the early 1970s. She later was a docent at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. She enjoyed playing tennis and received many trophies for her playing. In 1988, she and Peirce purchased an old farm house in Warren that they renovated and she remained there until 2011, although Peirce passed away in 1999. She was very involved in the Warren community. In 2008, she remarried and moved to Annapolis. She enjoyed playing duplicate bridge and solving the New York Times Sunday crossword puzzles. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a stepdaughter, a stepson, and a niece and nephew.

Daniel Maffuccio ’48, of Salt Lake City; Feb. 20. He had a 38-year career as an engineer at Texaco, retiring in 1985. He and his wife moved to Washington state in 1996 and settled in Salt Lake City in 2020 to be closer to family. He was active in his local church and enjoyed playing golf and painting. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; three sons and daughters-in-law; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

John J. Frazier ’48, of Danvers, Mass.; Apr. 3. Service in the U.S. Army Air Corps interrupted his studies at Brown, but after graduating, he earned a master’s from MIT and became an engineer at General Electric. He later moved to the defense industry and retired from Raytheon. He was a founding member of the Locust Lawn Ski Club, a Boy Scout leader, and a longtime member of the Danvers Recreation Committee and the Danvers Rotary Club. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed mountain climbing, skiing, and sailing. He is survived by three children and their spouses, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Mary McNulty Stoughton ’48, of Bloomfield, Conn.; Nov. 6. She was the director of Christian education at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford for more than two years and at St. James’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford for 13 years. She was active in many community and church organizations and was a summer communicant of St. James’ Anglican Church in Hunts Point, Nova Scotia, near her summer home in East Port L’Hebert. Mary was a prolific letter writer and after mobility issues prevented her from traveling, she continued to keep in touch with family and friends. She also enjoyed reading and seeing the birds that flocked to her bird feeders. She is survived by three children and their spouses, six grandchildren, a sister-in-law, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Charles A. Kernitz ’48, of Lebanon, Ohio; Nov. 16. He was a professional engineer and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed singing in the church choir and community bands. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Selma Herman Savage ’48, of Providence, R.I.; Oct. 19. She was owner of the former Myron Herman Co. / Herman’s Furniture Galleries until retiring in 1997. She was a member of Temple Beth-El and the Providence Art Club, and active with the League of Women Voters and Planned Parenthood. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Jane Weinert Nichols ’48, of Simsbury, Conn., formerly of Sandwich, N.H.; Sept. 1. She was a homemaker and is survived by three daughters, two sons-in-law, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a sister, a brother, and several nieces and nephews.

Roger L. Tiffany ’48, of Medina, Ohio; July 15. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in military intelligence in Ann Arbor, Mich. He later received a master’s of divinity from Episcopal Theological School and was ordained to the priesthood in 1951. He married and raised a family in Port Clinton, Ohio, where he was the rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. He and his wife retired to Medina in 1992. He is survived by three daughters; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; and a brother-in-law.

Robert H. Reilly ’48, of Bonita Springs, Fla., formerly of Bergen County, N.J.; Aug. 21. He was a licensed professional engineer and retired in 1991 as director of engineering at Hoke, Inc. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is survived by two sons, including James ’73; two granddaughters; and three great-granddaughters.

Robert R. Elsner Jr. ’48, of Milwaukee; Aug. 23.

Royce B. Crimmin Jr. ’48, of Bradford, Mass.; July 6. Well-known throughout New England as a champion runner, he attended UNH, Dartmouth, and MIT, and graduated from Brown. He went on to qualify for the Olympic trials. He spent most of his career as an insurance broker at Fairfield & Ellis, which later merged into Corroon & Black. He retired as senior vice president in 1989. He was a lifelong learner, and after losing his vision in later years, enjoyed listening to audiobooks. During retirement, he and his wife traveled the U.S. and overseas and he played golf in England, Scotland, and Ireland. He was a member of numerous societies, including Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society. He is survived by his wife, AnnaMay; two daughters and sons-in-law; two sons; three daughters-in-law; 14 grandchildren, including Matthew Crimmin ’03; 22 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

John W. Foley ’48, of New Rochelle, N.Y.; May 27. He enlisted in the V-12 Navy College training program at the age of 17 to train as a Navy pilot during World War II. He then attended Middlebury College, graduated from Brown, and enrolled at Brooklyn Law School, earning his law degree at night while working full-time. He worked at Allstate for 26 years and then switched jobs three times in his 50s. The highlight of his career was being head of global claims for insurance broker Marsh McLennan, which he joined in 1977. His retirement from Marsh occurred in stages. He retired from his full-time position in 1996 and continued consulting for the firm for an additional six years. Marsh tapped him again during the Spitzer investigation to review more than 10,000 claim files related to the lawsuit. He traveled the world extensively. He is survived by six children, 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, three nieces, and a nephew.

Robert M. Peters ’48, of Indiana, Pa.; Feb. 14. He spent his entire working career with ALCOA. He retired in 1988. He was a longtime member, deacon, and elder at Grace Community Presbyterian Church in Lower Burrell and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He enjoyed fishing and playing golf. He is survived by a daughter, a son, two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, and 17 grandchildren.

Barbara Kent Elliott ’48, of Tiverton, R.I., formerly of Concord, Mass.; Jan. 8. She earned a master’s degree in education from Northeastern. She began her teaching career in Department of Defense schools overseas, followed by 29 years in the Concord elementary schools as a reading/language arts teacher. She volunteered at the Concord Museum, became a member of the guiding staff and was later named a trustee. She was also a summer volunteer at the Atwood House Museum in Chatham. She was a member of numerous societies, including the Concord Garden Club, the Society of Mayflower Descendants, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and several genealogical associations. She is survived by a sister and several nieces and nephews.

Edward X. “Ted” Tuttle ’48, of Birmingham, Mich.; Nov. 21. After obtaining architectural degrees from Princeton and the University of Michigan, he worked for Giffels and Vallet, participating in projects in Europe and the Middle East. He became a Michigan registered architect in 1956 and in 1959 he opened his own architecture business and was commissioned to remodel the Battle Creek Gas Company building. He also designed a gas station, a diner, and—working with artist Betty Conn—a 30-foot tall Paul Bunyan lumberjack made almost entirely of Kaiser auto parts. “Kaiser Paul” stands at Alpena Community College as the mascot of the Lumberjacks. He designed and built his own home in Southfield. Both he and his wife were involved with Mensa; a fellow member suggested he would be well suited as a specialist in architectural and engineering litigation. He graduated from the Detroit College of Law in 1977 and joined the firm of Denenberg Tuffley, where he worked until his retirement in 1991. He then continued to consult privately as a forensic architect and travel with his wife. He is survived by three children, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and a sister.

Ben Z. Taber ’48, of El Paso, Tex.; Dec. 25. After service in the U.S. Navy, he returned to Brown to complete his undergraduate degree and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He was board certified and a fellow in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He practiced in El Paso from 1958 to 1963; moved to the East Coast and worked with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on newly discovered oral contraceptives; then moved to California, where he was medical director of Syntex Corp. He became clinical associate professor of ob-gyn at Stanford University Medical School and director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, finally retiring to El Paso in 1990. In addition to numerous articles and scientific publications, he authored Manual of Gynecological and Obstetrical Emergencies and Proving New Drugs. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; three children and their spouses; and four grandchildren.

Joseph A. Favino ’48, of Naples, Fla., formerly of Newburgh, N.Y.; Nov. 14, after a long illness. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was sent to Brown, where he met his future wife. He grew his father’s plumbing and heating business, expanding it into Favino Mechanical Construction, an HVAC contractor in the Hudson River Valley. He was a longtime member of the board of trustees of the Unions America Local 269 (plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters) and participated in many collective bargaining negotiations as well as serving on Newburgh planning and zoning boards. He enjoyed fishing and playing golf and achieved five holes-in-one during his lifetime. He is survived by five children and their spouses, including daughter Catherine Favino ’75; three grandchildren; two great-grand-
children; and a half-sister.

Virginia “Ginger” Bellows Henderson Schultz ’48, of Alexandria, Va., and Nantucket Island, Mass.; Sept. 11. After divorcing John B. Henderson ’46 in 1977, she moved to Nantucket Island and became active in the League of Women Voters and the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. She remarried in 1983 and enjoyed sailing and scalloping on Nantucket Island. She is survived by three daughters, including Sophie Henderson ’87 and her husband Nicholas Kalogeropoulos ’88; grandson Stephen Young ’16 PhD; and three great-grandchildren. 

Theresa Mastrangelo Mahoney ’48, of Lunenburg, Mass.; Oct. 26. For 45 years she was an educator at St. Anthony’s School, where she was afforded the opportunity to teach a variety of subjects and grade levels. She also led the drama club, judged and prepped students for the National Spelling Bee, and taught religious education. She continued to teach Latin and French to 8th grade students part-time until she fully retired at the age of 82. She was an avid reader. She is survived by four children and their spouses; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law; and several nieces and nephews. 

Philip D. Holmes ’48, of East Falmouth, Mass.; Oct. 18. He entered Brown only to leave shortly thereafter to serve in the Maritime service. Upon returning home from war, he completed his Brown degree and began a civil engineering position at the Otis Air Force base in Bourne, Mass. (now Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station). After several years at Otis, he started his own civil engineering company in Falmouth; after choosing a partner, the company became Holmes & McGrath Inc. In 1983, Philip and his wife moved to Maine, where they managed their 250-acre woodlot and grew several acres of balsam fir Christmas trees—it was a place families came to cut their own tree, have a sleigh ride, and drink hot chocolate. They returned to Cape Cod in 1999 to be closer to their children and growing family. He is survived by his wife, Jean; five children; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. 

Frances “Billie” Ridge Babcock ’48, of Glastonbury, Conn.; Oct. 9. She met her husband Jim, who passed two months prior to her death, at Brown. After graduating, they married and started a family. While her life was dedicated to her family, she had a brief career as a stewardess for Pan Am and later as a travel agent with Holidays Unlimited, which she owned with her brother. Both of those positions offered her opportunities to travel and her destinations covered the globe. She will be remembered for her hand-knitted socks and Afghans, her paintings, and her cooking. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

Phillip R. Jones ’48, of Mansfield, Mass.; July 26. After Brown he attended Boston University for two years in the evening studying advertising and marketing and later attended summer sessions at the Harvard Business School in marketing and communications. He spent his entire professional career in advertising, marketing, and public relations, eventually becoming owner and president of Lyons Advertising in Attleboro (Mass.) for more than 50 years. He served on several boards and was a trustee and member of the Board of Investment of Attleboro Savings Bank and Attleboro Pawtucket Savings, as well as a corporator of the Bristol County Savings Bank. He was president of MAAN (Mutual Advertising Agency Network), which later became MAGNET, a worldwide association with more than 50 advertising agency members in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America. He was also a member of Boston Ad Club and Providence Ad Club and served on the board of governors of the Blue Water Sailing Club. Sailing was more than a passion. He sailed the East Coast from Nova Scotia to Chesapeake Bay. In 1983, he participated in an ocean yacht race from Marion, Mass., to Bermuda in his 37 ft sloop Dauntless with a crew of six, placing 2nd in class and 3rd overall in a fleet of 150 boats. He also enjoyed hunting, skiing, sailing, gardening, and travel. He is survived by a son. 

James W. Babcock ’48, of Glastonbury, Conn.; Aug. 1. He was an engineer at the aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. After retiring, he embarked on a second career as a travel agent with Holidays Unlimited in South Glastonbury. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and happiest when spending time on the water swimming and sailing with his family. He is survived by his wife, Frances “Billie” Ridge Babcock ’48; two sons and daughters-in-law; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. 

Barbara Ammon Parker ’48, of Lenox, Mass.; May 10. She was a librarian at Mount Wachusett Community College for many years before taking a position as a librarian at UMass Amherst in 1982. After retiring, she moved to Vermont and traveled extensively. When she was no longer able to maintain that property, she moved to Kimball Farms independent living in Lenox and stayed active organizing their library. She enjoyed sewing, beekeeping, and gardening and is survived by two sons.

Elaine Jensen Kuhrt ’48, of Cheshire, Conn., formerly of Simsbury, Conn.; May 18. In March 1976, she and her husband conducted their first church service in their living room with 24 people in attendance. This was the start of the Valley Community Baptist Church in Avon, now in its 45th year of service. She held several titles, including church choir director. She enjoyed volunteering in many capacities and traveling. She is survived by four children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

Barbara Canning Klimm ’48, of Hyannis, Mass.; May 24. She worked many years in the Barnstable School system and served as an elected Barnstable Town Meeting member. She also volunteered at the Hyannis Public Library. She enjoyed gardening, reading, knitting, and classical music. She is survived by five children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Henry B. Williamson III ’48, of Centerville, Ohio; Mar. 23. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and achieved the rank of master sergeant and received the Bronze Star for his contribution during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he attended Brown and later served in the Army Reserves, where he worked for U.S. Army intelligence in Europe during the early 1950s. Following his second term of military service, he began working in the television industry in Texas and later in Los Angeles, working as an announcer and producer. In the early 1960s he began a career in the advertising business in New York City. He married and settled in Ohio. As a World War II veteran, he visited the bedsides of terminally ill Dayton area veterans presenting flag pins in honor of their military service. He gave presentations to local high school and college students, as well as to various civic organizations, recounting his experiences during World War II. He was an active member in the VFW Post 9550 in Centerville, a volunteer at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, and an active member of the Vineyard Church. He is survived by his wife, Christine; two daughters; a son; two sons-in-law; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

James Lovell ’48, of Sandwich, Mass.; Apr. 26, from complications of a stroke. Prior to working at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna, N.Y., he worked at General Electric for 40 years in Schenectady, N.Y., Lynn, Mass., and Cincinnati. He retired in 1987. He was an accomplished pianist, sharing his talents as rehearsal pianist for Schenectady Light Opera, as well as playing for church services. He sang in the Brown Glee Club and with the Cuttyhunk Cruisers, and was a chorus member and soloist for the Burnt Hill Oratorio Society, the Burnt Hill United Methodist Church choir, and the KAPL Chorale. He was a member of the Scotia-Glenville Rotary Club and he was proud of attending a Rotary meeting in Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, where he celebrated his 90th birthday on a youth hosteling adventure with his eldest daughter. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and in addition to music had wide and varied interests, including geology, Greek mythology, astronomy, physics, golf, gardening, skiing, and swimming. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps. He is survived by five children and their spouses, including daughter Rebecca Lovell Scott ’69 and son Bruce ’71; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Francis D. Johnson ’48, of Bristol, R.I., formerly of Belmont and Weston, Mass.; Mar. 1. After receiving his MBA from Harvard, he began working as a consultant. Additionally, he worked at a service station at night pumping gas and working on cars. During his lifetime his many jobs included business consultant, construction worker, professor, and post office clerk, while never calling in sick. He retired from the USPS at 78. He spent many years involved at St. Peter’s Church in Weston. He is survived by six children and their spouses, six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a brother.

James W. Freeman ’48, of Cambridge, Mass.; Mar. 21. After obtaining a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, he was one of the principals in a small, client-centered architecture practice, culminating in his work with Freeman, Brigham, and Hussey. He designed buildings for Cushing Academy, Shady Hill School, Concord Academy, Wheelock College, and Emerson College, as well as the Riverview apartment complex, and private residences in the greater Boston area. He was an advocate for preservation and fought to preserve farmlands and forests. In retirement, he was engaged in efforts to protect the architectural heritage of Cambridge. He enjoyed attending the Boston Symphony and traveling with his wife. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He is survived by his wife, Ann; four sons and their spouses; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Barbara Oberhard Epstein ’48, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Mar. 12. She worked for two years as a social worker in Providence after graduating and then married in 1950 and moved to New York City. In 1953, following the birth of her first child, she moved back to Rhode Island and she and her husband joined her father’s business, Max Oberhard, Naval and Civilian Outfitters. Throughout the years they enjoyed traveling the world, including a trip on the Orient Express. She sold the business in 1986 after her husband’s passing and reconnected with her high school classmate, Zalman Newman. She was a trustee emeritus and life member of the Naval War College Foundation and was a member of the board of the Newport Council Navy League, trustee of Bank Newport, and trustee of Newport Hospital, served as chair of the Newport Public Housing Authority, and was an advisory committee member of R.I. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a board member of Child and Family Services, and a member of the Newport Rotary Club. In addition she was an active member of the Jewish community, serving as a board member of both Touro Synagogue and the Touro Synagogue Foundation. She was a past board member of Jewish Alliance of RI and a life member of Hadassah. She was a president of the Newport County Chapter of the American Association of University Women and the 1986 Honoree of the AAUW Educational Foundation. She also served as a president of her class and was a past president of the Newport County Brown Club. She is survived by her companion, Zalman Newman; a daughter and son-in-law; two sons and daughters-in-law, including son David ’74; and five grandchildren.

Thomas E. Pitts ’48, of Cranston, R.I.; Dec. 14. He was a mechanical engineer with Linde Air Products in Buffalo, N.Y., and then at IBM in Hyde Park, N.Y. In 1954 he returned to Rhode Island and began working at the Universal Winding Company. During his long career there (and with its successor Leesona Corporation) he designed a shoulder-mounted recoilless anti-tank gun, coilers used by the Ford Motor Company to make automobile horns, and advanced yarn winding machines. In mid-career he became chief engineer at Mount Hope Manufacturing. His work took him to India, Thailand, Egypt, and Western Europe. In retirement, he enjoyed sailing and playing tennis well into his 80s. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. He is survived by two sons and their spouses, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Richard C. Kiss ’48, of Pompton Plains, N.J., formerly of Verona, N.J.; Feb. 5. After Brown he earned a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Newark College of Engineering, where he later became an adjunct professor. His career began as an engineer for Wright Aeronautical before joining Westinghouse Electric Lighting (later Philips), where he worked for more than 30 years. He held various positions in manufacturing and quality control and traveled internationally assisting in foreign operations. He enjoyed camping and boating and is survived by his wife, Helen; two sons; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; and grandchildren. 

Virginia Silva Baxter ’48, of Riverside, R.I.; Feb. 2. She worked as a secretary at Brown for 25 years before retiring in 1999. She was a member of the Riverside Order of the Eastern Star and enjoyed traveling. She is survived by a daughter, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a brother. 

Ernest M. Greenberg ’48, of Dedham, Mass.; Jan. 16. He earned his medical degree from SUNY, completed his internship and residency training in anesthesiology at Grasslands Hospital (N.Y.), then worked in the anesthesia department at Framingham Union Hospital for 36 years. He was chief of anesthesiology (1974-76), medical director of respiratory therapy (1968-78), and president of Anesthesia Associates of Framingham, Inc. (1981-92). He was also an assistant clinical professor of anesthesiology at Boston University. He was board-certified and a Fellow of the American College of Anesthesiology. After retiring in 1992, he became a volunteer at the former New England Wildflower Society and the Arnold Arboretum. He was a longtime member of Temple Beth Am and a U.S. Army World War II decorated veteran. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, Libby; three children and their spouses, including son Mark ’76, ’79 MD; and six grandchildren. 

Myron L. Stein ’48, of Amherst, Mass.; Sept. 16. After serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and completing residencies in psychiatry and child psychiatry, he taught, consulted and began a private practice. He was assistant professor of child psychiatry at Cornell Medical School and SUNY Syracuse. In 1965, he helped found the Center for Preventive Psychiatry in White Plains, N.Y., and served as its associate director until 1973. In 1974 he moved to Amherst and consulted for Pioneer Valley hospitals and mental health clinics and Amherst and Northampton schools. He is survived by his wife, Iso; three sons, including Alex ’84 and Andrew ’86; three daughters-in-law; and a grandson. 

Virginia Wilson Smith ’48, of Duxbury, Mass.; Oct. 9. She was a homemaker. While at Brown, she was a member of the fencing team, Sigma Xi, and Phi Beta Kappa. She was an avid gardener and landscaper, the family genealogist, a talented artist, and an award-winning photographer as a member of the South Shore Camera Club. She is survived by four sons, including Douglas ’71; three daughters-in-law; and three granddaughters. 

Paul J. Rosch ’48, of Yonkers, N.Y.; Feb. 26, 2020, due to complications from a fall. He was chairman of the board of The American Institute of Stress, clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at New York Medical College, and a clinical professor of medicine and psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He also served as president of the New York State Society of Internal Medicine, vice president of the International Stress Management Association, and chairman of the International Foundation for Biopsychosocial Development and Human Health. He was the recipient of many honors, including the New York State Medical Society’s Outstanding Physician Award, the Schering Award, and the American Rural Health
Association’s International Distinguished Service Award. His many memberships included The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and the Scientific Advisory Council of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Foundation. He was editor-in-chief of Stress Medicine and was on the editorial board of several journals.

Michelina Rizzo ’48, of Providence; Oct. 19. She started her teaching career in 1949 in Providence, where she taught at Kenyon School until transferring to Brigham School in 1956. Upon obtaining her master’s from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1959, she taught at Central High School from 1960 to 1967, including a one-year hiatus after receiving the Charles E. Merrill Fellowship to study abroad in Italy during the 1962-63 academic year. After Central she transferred to Classical High School, from which she retired in 1982. Throughout her career, she was an active member of the teacher’s union and many educational associations. She enjoyed traveling and is survived by a sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

Ruth Gadbois Matarazzo ’48, of Portland, Ore.; Nov. 13. After graduating with honors in psychology, she remained at Brown for one term as a graduate school teaching assistant. During that time she met her future husband, Joe, also a psychology graduate, but after being advised by several professors that it would be harmful to their marriage if they both became psychologists, Ruth applied for, and was accepted into, a one-year business program for women at Radcliffe. Upon graduation, she accepted a position in the personnel department of Marshall Field’s department store while her husband started his PhD program at Northwestern Univ. After learning that men were earning more than twice the wage of women doing the same work, she was compelled to continue her doctoral studies once they moved to St. Louis in 1950. She received her PhD in 1955 from Washington University. She was the only woman in her graduating class and during her clinical training was the first woman admitted into the VA’s hospital internship program. In 1955 she and her husband both accepted positions at Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts General Hospital. She was a research fellow and later became a staff psychologist. In 1957, both she and Joe were recruited to establish the first medical psychology department at University of Oregon Medical School, Oregon Health & Science University’s precursor, now called the department of behavioral neuroscience. She was the second full-time female faculty member at the school and went on to serve as a distinguished researcher, clinician, and educator. She specialized in neuropsychology, treating patients with brain injuries and psychiatric conditions and serving as a well-regarded expert witness in court cases. Another of her achievements was her leadership in helping women in medicine and science. She arrived at the school eight months pregnant and worked until she gave birth to her first child. Her example helped change policy for working women at OHSU. She served as a liaison to the Association of American Medical Colleges advocating for women faculty, including the participation of women on medical school committees. She served on numerous editorial review boards and held leadership positions in local, regional, and national psychological associations. She was the recipient of the 2007 Presidential Award of the American Psychological Association for her lifetime of professional contributions and public service. She enjoyed classical music and the opera and served as a founding member of the board of directors of the Portland Opera Association. She is survived by her husband, Joe ’47; two daughters, including Elizabeth Holman ’81; son Harris ’79 and his wife; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Janet French Laughlin ’48, of Chelmsford, Mass.; Nov. 4. After marrying and raising a family, she obtained her real estate license and worked at Emerson Real Estate in Chelmsford and Westford. She was an active member of the Chelmsford Garden Club and enjoyed skiing, eventually building a ski house in Intervale, N.H. She is survived by five children and their spouses, including daughter Pamela Emerson ’79; and seven grandchildren.

Donald G. Harrington ’48, of Endwell, N.Y., and Colchester, Vt.; Nov. 15. He worked for Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, Conn., before joining IBM in Schenectady in 1950 as a customer engineer in product testing. He moved on to become manager of laboratory operations at Glendale and retired as controller of IBM Glendale in 1984. He enjoyed collecting and restoring antique automobiles and for 20 years showed his cars at meets and drove them in various parades. He was president of the Southern Tier Model As. He was also a ham radio operator and enjoyed flying radio-controlled planes and woodworking. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and is survived by two daughters, a son, three sons-in-law, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Patricia Aloe Haight ’48, of Pasadena, Calif.; Oct. 29, of kidney failure. She worked in public relations in New York City before marrying and starting a family. She enjoyed the Dodgers, USC football, and playing bridge and golf. She belonged to five different golf clubs in two states and was an official in the 1984 Olympic Games. She collected more than 200 silver spoons dating back to the 19th century and enjoyed traveling, visiting 68 countries on five continents. She was active in community organizations, including 25 years with the Pasadena Tobacco Prevention Coalition. She is survived by five daughters and five grandchildren.

Carmine J. Capalbo ’48, of Greenville, R.I.; Oct. 3. After serving in World War II and upon discharge from the U.S. Army, he graduated from Brown and then received his medical degree from Georgetown Medical School. Surgical internships followed at Rhode Island Hospital, where he remained as a surgical staff member for 46 years. He was also a clinical associate professor emeritus of surgery at Brown. His memberships included the American College of Surgeons, New England and Providence surgical societies, and Rhode Island and Providence medical societies. He was known as “Cap” or “Cappy” to staff colleagues and truly enjoyed patient care and clinical practice. He is survived by five children and their spouses; eight grandchildren, including Sarah Engle ’11; two brothers, including William ’57; and two sisters-in-law.

George F. Bland ’48, of Salisbury, Md.; Nov. 4. He was a longtime IBM executive before being named assistant dean of student services at N.C. State University School of Engineering. He was also named associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. Subsequently he was a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Virginia. He enjoyed flying, sailing, model railroading, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Brown Bland ’55, and two sons.

Thelma Andrews Spriggs ’48, of Norton, Mass.; Mar. 6, of complications from Alzheimer’s. She earned a master’s degree from Northeastern University and taught for the U.S. Army in Germany after World War II. Upon her return to the United States, she taught math at Attleboro High School (Mass.). She enjoyed traveling, gardening, music, and theatre. She is survived by a daughter and a brother.

Barbara Brightman Northrop ’48, of Barrington, R.I.; Aug. 8. She balanced the books for several companies, including her daughter’s graphic design business. She enjoyed singing, playing the piano, solving crossword puzzles, and traveling. She is survived by a daughter, a son, and two grandchildren.

Shirley Walling Mayhew ’48, of West Tisbury, Mass.; Aug. 21. She served on the West Tisbury School Board, was the children’s librarian in the Music Street Library for a year, volunteered at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum and the West Tisbury Library, was active in the NAACP and civil rights movement in the 1960s, and served a year as Sunday School superintendent in the West Tisbury Congregational Church. Having left Brown before completing her degree, while her children were still young, she returned to college in 1963 and after two years earned her bachelor’s degree. From that experience she published Seasons of a Vineyard Pond: A Journal in 1973. From 1966 to 1986 she taught junior high language arts at the Edgartown School. Along the way she also completed a master’s degree, writing a thesis on the age group she was teaching. She began traveling in 1968 and by 2004 had visited 14 states and 25 foreign countries, and she had taken 11 trips to six Caribbean islands. She made repeat visits to a tiny mountain village in Peru, where she became a benefactor, raising money each year for the village school. She also taught herself photography and began dabbling in watercolor painting in her 80s, selling some of her paintings at artisan fairs. Beginning in 1992 and continuing through her last week of life at 94, Shirley published numerous essays and photographs in many island and off-island publications. In 2014 she self-published a memoir, Looking Back: My Long Life on Martha’s Vineyard, which was highlighted in the January/February ’15 BAM article, “Island Life.” She had appeared another time in BAM in the January/February ’09 BAM article “A Pembroke Romance.” She later self-published four additional books. She is survived by two daughters, including Deborah Mayhew ’73; son John Mayhew III ’71; a daughter-in-law; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister.

John F. Crowley ’48, of Greenville, R.I.; July 28. He served in the U.S. Navy prior to attending Brown. After graduation, he was hired by IBM and worked there for 40 years. He is survived by three sons and a grandson.

Elizabeth Stone Ellis ’49, of Manchester, Conn.; May 4. Her husband bought two weekly newspapers and in 1967 she went to work in their circulation departments. The two merged into the daily Journal Inquirer a year later and she became the publication’s assistant publisher in 1970. She rose to publisher in 1973, overseeing the newspaper’s expansion in a time when the industry was mostly run by men. The New England Newspaper and Press Association honored her in 2000 with its prestigious Yankee Quill Award in recognition of her contributions to both journalism and the communities the Journal Inquirer covers. The newspaper also won the association’s Newspaper of the Year award under her leadership in 1987. She is survived by her husband, Neil ’48; two daughters and their spouses; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Alden C. Goodnow Jr. ’48, of Danvers, Mass.; May 21. He attended Brown but interrupted his studies to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After returning from the war, he completed his baccalaureate studies and went on to earn an MBA from Harvard Business School. He married in 1951 and began his career in Manhattan at Shell Oil. He then returned to Danvers, where he established Goodnow Real Estate & Insurance Agency, which he owned and operated for more than 50 years. He was a member of Danvers Rotary Club, president of Danvers Historical Society, and a trustee, church moderator, and choir member of Maple Street Congregational Church, forming a barbershop quartet with some of the other choir members. He was an avid Red Sox fan and proud to be the “Hats off for Heroes” honoree at Fenway Park in September 2018 for his service in World War II. He enjoyed building model trains and built and collected many ship models over the years. He is survived by his wife, Lois Booth Goodnow ’50; three daughters; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law; and a niece. 

Albert Feldman ’48, of Henderson, Nev.; July 7. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law and two grandsons.

Ruth J. Itschner Cooper ’48 of Northampton, Mass.; May 10. After Brown she went on to earn a master’s degree in music from Colorado College. Her career in singing and teaching voice lasted more than 60 years. She began her career in New York City, where she met and married John Cooper, an aspiring composer and pianist. Together they traveled to India and taught at the Calcutta School of Music. Eventually they returned to the U.S. and lived and worked in New York and California before settling in Massachusetts. She enjoyed learning languages, particularly German, French, and Italian. She also enjoyed writing poetry, playing card games, birds and wildflowers. She is survived by her husband; a daughter; and two grandchildren.

Barbara Lanz Whiton ’48, of Manchester, Conn.; Feb. 21. She was a substitute teacher at East Hartford High School for 19 years before her retirement. She was a longtime active member of Center Congregational Church in Manchester and enjoyed gardening and sewing. She is survived by her husband, Albert; a son and daughter-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Austin B. Thompson ’48, of Westborough, Mass.; Mar. 11. He was a manufacturer representative for several different companies throughout his career. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Williamstown. He is survived by a daughter and her partner; son Austin B. Thompson III ’75 and daughter-in-law Dorothy Harvey Thompson ’75; four grandchildren, including Nathanael Thompson ’01 and Ethan Thompson ’04; and five great-grandchildren.

Frank M. Precopio ’48, of Lansdale, Pa.; Feb. 13. After earning a PhD in chemistry from Yale, he joined the General Electric Company in their research facility in Schenectady, N.Y., working on wire and cable coatings. In 1955 he filed a patent for peroxide cured polyethylene, which later became known as crosslinked polyethylene and revolutionized the wire and cable industry. He left GE after 15 years and became the director of research at Amchem Products in Ambler, Pa. The company developed several significant products under his direction and eventually he became president, serving as vice president and general manager after Amchem was acquired by Henkel Corp. He retired in 1990.  Having helped his son purchase Summers Laboratories’s line of dermatological pharmaceuticals, he joined Summers Labs as research director. He retired from Summers Labs in 2017. He is survived by his wife, Rita, and two sons. 

Joseph A. Poor ’48, of Rumford, R.I., formerly of Ironwood, Mich.; Feb. 23. He had a 54-year career in engineering that began with work in Minnesota and continued in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, before moving to Rumford. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and enjoyed fishing, bowling, and playing golf. He is survived by four children and a grandson.

Irving E. Miller ’48, of Miami Beach, Fla.; Mar. 16. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he began brokering tracts of land and eventually moved into many areas of real estate, including hotel/motel, housing, and subdivision development. He enjoyed playing golf, antique shopping, and collecting beer steins. He is survived by Amalia Miller; five children, including son Roger ’89; three stepchildren; 17 grandchildren, including grandson Cody Simmons ’10, ’11 ScM; seven step-grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Donald R. Gray ’48, of Glen Rock, N.J.; Feb. 5. He was a retired assistant vice president of Chubb & Son in New York City and a retired captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was on active duty during the Korean War. He was a member of the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association and the Knights of Columbus, and served on the Pastoral Council and other ministries of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He is survived by his wife, Joan; five children and their spouses; 14 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. 

Gordon R. Pyper ’48, of Vero Beach, Fla., formerly of Vermont; Dec. 23. He was a professor of civil engineering at Norwich University for 23 years. He spent a decade with Dufresne-Henry Engineering Co. in North Springfield, Vt., and a decade as commissioner of water resources for the state of Vermont. He served in the U.S. Air Force and enjoyed sailing the waters of Lake Champlain. He is survived by a daughter, a son, three grandchildren, and a sister.

Alice Forstall Dana ’48, of Scituate, Mass., formerly of Huntington, Conn.; Jan. 3. She worked as a nurse for more than 40 years. She sang in her church choir and was an avid sports fan who followed the Boston Red Sox, Brown, and UNH sports teams. She enjoyed knitting, traveling, and playing Mahjong and Scrabble. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, two sons and daughters-in-law, four grandchildren, and sister-in-law Louise Dimlich Forstall ’51.

Robert C. Spencer ’48, of Burnt Hills, N.Y.; Oct. 19. After serving in the U.S. Navy and graduating from Brown and Columbia University with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, he joined General Electric Co. He held various engineering and management positions at GE for his entire professional career, retiring in 1987. He participated in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and was elected a Fellow in 1976. He co-authored a groundbreaking paper in 1963 providing a method for predicting the performance of steam generators and participated in the development and authorship of the ASME steam tables, for which he received the George Westinghouse Gold Medal in 1987. He was a member of the Adirondack Mountain Club and enjoyed whitewater canoeing, camping, mountain climbing, Sunfish sailing on area lakes, and sculling on the Mohawk. He is survived by two daughters, a son, a son-in-law, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Leon D. Sadow ’48, of Plymouth, Mass., formerly of New Bedford, Mass., and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Oct. 29. After serving in the U.S. Navy and graduating from Brown, he was the proprietor of Sadow’s Clothing Store in New Bedford. He enjoyed playing bridge and became a Life Master in 2018. He is survived by his wife, Alma; two daughters and their spouses, including Debra Koenig ’75; son Richard ’83 and his spouse; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Robert H. Rothman ’48, of Providence; Nov. 4. After serving in the U.S. Army for two years, he returned to Brown and, after graduating, joined his father’s jewelry manufacturing business, the Charles Rothman Co. He was actively involved in community projects and associations, including as past master of Redwood Masonic Lodge, past president of Providence Radio Association, and chair of the board of the Roger Williams Medical Center. He obtained a private pilot license and flew for 50 years, visiting 26 countries. He is survived by his wife, Janis; two daughters and their spouses; son William ’73 and his wife; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
 

Lucille Pieri Martin ’48, of Cumberland, R.I.; Sept. 15. She served on the Cumberland Conservation Commission for more than 30 years, was a member of the Cumberland Garden Club, and was a charter member of Abbott Run Valley Club. She is survived by two daughters, two sons, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Earl M. Bucci ’48, of Schenectady, N.Y.; Oct. 10, after a brief illness. An Eagle Scout, he was scoutmaster of Troop 523 in Manhattan for three years and worked at the New York Times before entering law school. He maintained his own law offices as a practicing attorney for more than 50 years. He served as associate counsel to the president pro tempore of the New York Senate and routinely volunteered his talents as chair of the committee for the administration and distribution of decedents’ estates for the American Bar Association, as a member of the executive committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the New York State Bar Association, as president of the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York, and, by appointment of the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, on the Committee on Character and Fitness. He was committed to civic engagement, serving as president of the boards of Schenectady’s Symphony Orchestra Association and its Senior Citizens Center, and as president of the Brown University Club of northeastern New York. He was an honorary life member of The Nature Conservancy for his gift of 100 acres in Adirondack Park and a member of Beta Theta Pi. He is survived by his son Michael ’78, two daughters and six grandchildren.

Stephen N. Wiener ’48, of St. Petersburg, Fla. and Brevard, N.C.; Aug. 2. For more than 45 years he served on the staff of Mt. Sinai Hospital in Cleveland as director of radiology, president of the medical society, and chairman of the hospital’s medical advisory board. During the 1970s and 1980s he led Mt. Sinai’s radiology department during a period of scientific and technological growth. As one of the first hospitals to obtain an MRI machine and in collaboration with Picker Corp., he and his colleagues performed some of the first-ever experiments using the machine and helped to establish Mt. Sinai as a leader in the field. During the course of his career he was a team radiologist for the Cleveland Browns football team, a clinical professor at Case Western Reserve University, a fellow of the American College of Radiology, and he published numerous medical and technical journal articles. He retired in 1998 and divided his time between homes in Cleveland and Florida, staying active in both communities teaching computer skills to the elderly, designing websites for nonprofits, and participating in book clubs. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and enjoyed sailing, playing tennis and pickleball, and singing with the Sleepless Knights a cappella group in Cleveland. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by his wife, June; sons Clifford ’76 and Andrew ’80; two grandchildren; a brother, Howard ’52; and nephew Daniel Wiener ’77.

Priscilla Mandalian Morse ’48, of Sequim, Ore.; Sept. 29. After graduating and marrying, she moved several times due to her husband’s profession and eventually settled in Sequim, where she was active in the community. She was a member of several hospital guilds, including Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild, and was a member of a few bridge clubs, including Cards for Cardiacs. She served as parish secretary of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and sang in the Church of St. Joseph chorus and Port Angeles Community Chorus. She is survived by a daughter, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and two step-great-grandchildren.

George F. Hurley ’48, of Oriental, N.C.; Oct. 7. He served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot. After retiring from the aerospace industry, he became involved in various civil and community organizations, including the Amateur Radio Club, the Civil Air Patrol, the Sailing Club of Oriental, the Pamlico County Law Enforcement Assoc., and Meals on Wheels. He enjoyed flying, hunting, and sailing. He is survived by his wife, Joanne; three children; six grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

H. Vaskin Aposhian ’48, of Rockport, Mass.; Sept. 9. He was a professor and scientist at Vanderbilt, Tufts, University of Maryland, and the University of Arizona. He taught microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology. His research focused on mercury, lead, and arsenic, as well as gene technology and autism. He mentored numerous graduate students, supervised their research and dissertation, and published several papers in various scientific journals. He retired from the University of Arizona as professor emeritus but remained active in his field for many years writing articles, speaking at conferences, serving as a consultant, and testifying as an expert witness in court cases. He was the recipient of many awards and enjoyed reading, especially military history, the New York Times, and spy novels. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and is survived by a daughter, two grandchildren, and a niece.  

Jacqueline Archambault Smith ’48, of Wakefield, R.I.; June 23. She was a talented watercolorist. She enjoyed spending summer days with family and friends at Green Hill Beach and reading to her grandchildren. She is survived by five children, including son Dominic L. Smith ’87 and his wife, Annik Gagnon Smith ’87; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A. Sheffield Reynolds ’48, of Warwick, R.I.; Apr. 12. He worked for 45 years at Rhode Island Hospital Trust National Bank before retiring as senior vice president of commercial lending. He later worked for three years as a consultant for Bank Boston. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. A Mason for 64 years, he was the recipient of an Exemplary Service Medal from Adelphoi Lodge in 2005 and served the Masonic Grand Lodge of Rhode Island as grand master in 1978. He was a member of the Rhode Island Shriners and elected Potentate in 1989. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Providence and a recipient of the Honorary 33rd Degree. He is survived by two children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Louis J. Pugliese ’48, of Providence; Mar. 21. He was a draftsman for companies before founding Providence Design Associates. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed painting and exhibiting his work in a variety of community settings. He is survived by three daughters; a son; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a sister.

Joseph C. Lepanto ’48, of Bryn Mawr, Pa.; Feb. 22. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and moved to Philadelphia in 1966, where he worked as a senior partner with the law firm of Mesirov, Gelman, Jaffe, Cramer & Jamieson until his retirement. In addition, he served as chair of the Business Law Section, as a member of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and was a member of the National Association on Bond Lawyers. He is survived by five children; grandchildren; and two sisters.

Elizabeth D. Knox ’48, of Columbus, N.C.; Apr. 4. She worked as a millinery buyer for a large retail group in the Northeast before moving on to management training. She developed and led personnel training programs prior to joining Travelers Insurance and Citigroup as a trainer. She was an accomplished painter and was a member of the Tryon Painters and Sculptors Guild. She enjoyed traveling and playing golf.

William E. Eastham ’48, of Milwaukee; Mar. 16. He began working at Pate Oil Company, which was eventually sold to Standard Oil (now Exxon), and left after years to manage the Milwaukee office of Manpower, Inc. After 11 years with Manpower, he decided he wanted to start his own business and in 1982 bought Crafted Plastics, Inc., in Sheboygan, Wis. He owned the company for 26 years. In retirement he played golf, tennis, softball and bridge, skied, hiked, and traveled the U.S. coast to coast. Until the age of 92, he was ski racing on both the local and national levels. He was a member of the Heiliger Huegel Club and served as a member of the ski patrol. He volunteered with the Rotary Club and sat on many boards, including the YMCA. He enjoyed music and attending the Florentine Opera, the Milwaukee Symphony and the Milwaukee Ballet. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and is survived by four children and their spouses; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister.
 

Morton Y. Paige ’48, of Providence; Nov. 29. He was an insurance executive with United Life and Chubb Life for many years, and was a partner in Young Paige Insurance Agency of Pawtucket. He was active in many Jewish organizations, including Temple Torat Yisrael, Temple Emanu-El, Touro Fraternal Association, Jewish War Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army. He is survived by two children; two grandchildren; a sister; and nieces and nephews, including Robert E. Levin ’75, ’78 MD.

John J. Murphy Jr. ’48, of Topsham, Me., formerly of Stamford, Conn.; Sept. 5, 2017. He worked for General Electric. Following the death of his wife in 1963, he moved to Stamford and pursued a successful career as a marketing executive. He retired to Topsham in 2004. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a community volunteer, and he enjoyed jazz music. He is survived by eight daughters; 19 grandchildren, including Timothy Berger ’99; two sisters; and several nieces and nephews.

Jane A. Hodnett ’48, of Providence; Sept. 15. She taught school in Providence for 39 years. She enjoyed sewing and playing golf and bridge. She is survived by a sister, Barbara Hodnett ’52; a brother-in-law; and seven nieces and nephews, including Robert J. Hay Jr. ’75, Michael Hay ’78, Margaret Hay ’81, and Catherine Hay ’15.

William T. Bluhm ’48, of Rochester, N.Y.; Nov. 16. After receiving his master’s and PhD, he taught at Brown for four years, then joined the faculty of the Univ. of Rochester in the department of political science, where he remained for more than 30 years. He was the author of numerous articles and several books dealing with political philosophy and ethics. During World War II he served in the U.S Army and was awarded the Bronze Star. He enjoyed bird watching, reading mysteries, and traveling. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; three children; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Robert M. Siff ’48, of Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Worcester, Mass.; Sept. 11, from Alzheimer’s disease. After completing his freshman year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he helped liberate two concentration camps. Fluent in German and Yiddish, he also served as an interpreter for the military and earned a Bronze Star. After the war he completed his studies at Brown and went on to become president and CEO of B-W Footwear, Ambassador Shoe, and BWA International. He was also president and director of the Two/Ten National Foundation, the shoe industry’s philanthropic organization, and served as director of the Mechanics Bank of Worcester. Active in Brown affairs, he was secretary, vice president, and president of the Brown University Club of Worcester County and worked as a University fundraiser. He served on the board of directors of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts, the EcoTarium museum of science and nature, Clark University’s Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and Worcester Jewish Healthcare Center, as well as being past director of the Worcester Area Association for Retarded Citizens. In addition, he worked for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and has served on various fundraising committees for charitable, religious, and educational institutions. He was the recipient of the Two/Ten Footwear Foundation T. Kenyon Holly Memorial Award and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angels in Adoption Award, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts honored him by dedicating the Robert M. Siff State Square in Webster, Mass. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; son Larry ’84; daughter Karen Siff Exkorn ’82; a daughter-in-law; a son-in-law; and four grandchildren, including Emily Siff ’19, Andrew Siff ’21, and Matthew Siff ’21.
 

Merrill “Mel” Shattuck ’48, of Oakland, Calif.; Sept. 24, of Alzheimer’s disease. After earning a master’s in industrial psychology from the Univ. of Wisconsin Madison, he began a long career in California, mostly as an executive search consultant helping to shape the leadership ranks of early Silicon Valley tech firms, including Digital Equipment Corp. and Varian Associates. He was a U.S. Army World War II veteran, serving in the paratroops. At Brown he was involved with the Glee Club, the Brown Daily Herald, Sock & Buskin, and Lambda Chi Alpha. He earned initiation into Phi Beta Kappa, for which he later served as president, Teaching Excellence chair, and vice president of membership of the Northern California chapter. He enjoyed nature, photography, and his daily newspaper, and was considered a shameless punster until his death. He is survived by daughter, Wendy E. Shattuck ’85; a son-in-law; a granddaughter; and brother, Whitney ’54.

Virgil Marson ’48, of Naples, Fla., formerly of North Hampton, N.H.; Oct. 2. Before attending Brown, where he was captain of the football team, he served in the U.S. Army. During a bombing mission he became a prisoner of war for a year and received the Purple Heart. After graduating, he cofounded The Andover Shop, men’s clothing shops in both Andover, Mass., and Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. In the late 1960s he began pilgrimages to the U.K. to work with weavers in Ireland and Scotland’s Shetland Islands to produce tweeds of his own design, eventually becoming known as The Prince of Tweeds.  He dressed presidents and celebrities. An avid theater enthusiast, he would travel to Manhattan to attend Broadway shows and frequent jazz clubs. He is survived by a daughter; a son; a son-in-law; a grandson; two sisters; and companion, Sheila Mahoney.

Marvin N. Geller ’48, of Brookline, Mass.; Apr. 13. He was a retired Boston attorney who practiced primarily in the areas of real estate and secured lending, corporate securities, and corporate reorganization. A former president of the New England Region American Jewish Congress and former chairman of the property committee of Community Housing for Adult Independence, he was also appointed as the commissioner of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission in 1984. He was an avid swimmer and a supporter and advocate for those with intellectual disabilities. Phi Beta Kappa. He is survived by four children, including Ann Geller ’73; six grandchildren, including Nathan Weinberger ’13; and three great-grandchildren.

Richard A. Wise ’48, of Dover, Mass.; Apr. 28. He was employed as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, D.C. After returning to the New England area, he was employed with USM Corp., becoming general patent counsel. In 1971 he accepted the position as patent and trademark counsel of the Gillette Co. in Boston. He then became Of Council for Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds of Lexington, Mass. He was a World War II U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and life member of Norfolk Lodge AF&AM in Needham, Mass. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine; a granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.

Domenic A. Vavala ’48, of Johnston, R.I.; Feb. 13. He was emeritus professor of health sciences and nutrition at Johnson & Wales Univ. and a retired lieutenant colonel of the U.S. Air Force Medical Service. He held teaching and research positions at U.S. Air Force medical schools and hospitals before joining Johnson & Wales in 1973. He was the recipient of the Academic Pals in Gold by Minerva Univ. in Italy and was a fellow of the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science. He was a member of the Royal Society of Health in London, the Texas Academy of Science, Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Sigma. He is survived by a cousin.

Fred R. Collins ’48, of Green Valley, Ariz., formerly of Pittsburgh and Massena, N.Y.; Mar. 2. He joined Alcoa Laboratories in New Kensington, Pa., conducting research and developing an aluminum welding metal alloy used on the fuel tanks of the Saturn V rocket. In 1967 he was named manager of the electrical products division of Alcoa Labs in Massena, N.Y. In 1975 he joined the headquarters staff of Alcoa Conductor Products Co. in Pittsburgh, retiring as vice president in 1985 and moving to Green Valley. He was active in several local organizations and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of the American Welding Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and Sigma Xi. He enjoyed playing piano and organ, singing in barbershop quartets, and four-wheeling in his vintage Isuzu Trooper. He is survived by five children and their spouses, 12 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
 

Jeannette Jones Pollard ’48, of Essex, Conn., formerly of Devon, Pa.; Feb. 8. She devoted her life to family, arts volunteering, education, historic preservation, and travel. She worked briefly in publishing and was active with the Essex Historical Society. A supporter of the Philadelphia Orchestra, she served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Landmarks Society of Philadelphia, and the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. She was a Pembroke class secretary for many years and with her husband, William A. Pollard ’50, provided Brown scholarships. They contributed the lead gift in the renovation of Meehan Auditorium, whose ice rink was renamed the Pollard Family Rink at Meehan Auditorium. In addition to her husband, she is survived by four daughters, including Judith Danforth ’77, Wendy Pollard ’81, and Edith Tower ’85; three sons-in-law, including Murray Danforth III ’77 and Caleb Tower ’85; eight grandchildren, including Merebea Danforth ’06, Benjamin Kurtz ’08, William Kurtz ’08, and Julia Metzger ’13; and four great-grandchildren.

Raymond E. Kassar ’48, of Vero Beach, Fla., formerly of New York City and San Francisco; Dec. 10, of Lewy body dementia. He was president of Burlington House and served on the board of directors of Burlington Industries before joining Warner Communications in 1978, where he was appointed president and CEO and was instrumental in the rapid expansion of Atari. He was director of the board of the American Hospital of Paris Foundation and was an avid art investor and collector. In 1982, Brown dedicated the Edward W. Kassar House at 151 Thayer Street, which housed the mathematics department, in memory of his father. A member of the American Society of Interior Designers and the National Bedding Company, he enjoyed his Vizsla dogs and playing tennis. He is survived by his spouse, David Ferguson, and several nieces and nephews.

M. Patricia Payne Fleck ’48, of Wakefield, R.I., formerly of Madison, Conn., and Reston, Va.; Oct. 30, after a brief illness. She was a retired teacher who taught in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Virginia. She was a member of the American Association of University of Women, the Brown Club, and the Pembroke Club. She is survived by two daughters; three sons; five grandchildren; a sister, Mavis Perkins ’52; and 22 nieces and nephews, including Elizabeth Perkins ’76 and Kathleen Perkins ’80.

Marjorie Foote Knievel ’48, of Berthoud, formerly of Loveland, Colo.; Nov. 1, following a brief illness. She was a homemaker and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Loveland. After moving to Berthoud, she joined the First Presbyterian Church of Berthoud and volunteered at the McCarty-Fickel Home Museum. She served on the board of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District for 12 years and was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Loveland Rotary Club. She was an avid stamp collector and enjoyed playing bridge. She is survived by two sons and their wives, four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister, and six nieces and nephews.

Barbara McElmeal St. Martin ’48, of Exeter, N.H., formerly of Framingham, Mass.; Nov. 7. After being employed by the U.S. Census Bureau in Washington, D.C., she became a teacher in the Framingham school district. She later worked as a travel agent and bookkeeper in Natick, Mass. and was a longstanding member of St. Matthias Choir, as well as a member of the League of Women Voters, Framingham Town Meeting, and the Red Hat Society of The Meadows. She is survived by two daughters, three sons, two daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law; and eight grandchildren.

Cecilia Anderson Banks ’48, of Simsbury, Conn., formerly of Huntington, N.Y.; Aug. 8. After raising a family, she earned a nursing degree and had a 20-year career at Huntington Hospital. She is survived by two daughters, a son, a daughter-in-law, two sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren.

Elaine Lipson Kroll ’48, of Providence; Sept. 18. She was a homemaker and lifetime member of Hadassah, which awarded her its Presidential Award. She was a member of the National Council of Jewish Women and the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Assoc. and was on the board of trustees of the Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El. She is survived by two daughters and their spouses, two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a brother.

Marjorie Hartmann Lieneck ’48, of Northampton, Mass.; Oct. 10. She taught English at Concordia Prep School of Concordia College and at Hastings High School, Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., where she was both teacher and department chair for 22 years. She served on several committees and councils. She is survived by a daughter, a son, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.